pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: kingdom


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The Target Audience

Reading: Matthew 22:1-10

Verse 3: “He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.”

Photo credit: Possessed Photography

Jesus loved to tell a good story, to teach in parables. These were stories that were often set in real life so that people could relate to them. Therefore they were able to remember them. Parables are great ways to teach lessons or truths without actually naming the target audience. And best of all, the people knew there were deeper meanings to these parables, so they wrestled with Jesus’ teachings.

Once again Jesus begins, “The kingdom of heaven was like…” Jesus is talking about both the future kingdom of heaven and of the kingdom here on earth. These are to be like one another. When we get to heaven, we should say, ‘This looks a lot like earth.’ That is the truth that frames this parable. The parable reveals the reality that they are not alike.

The king (God) invites people (Israel) to his son’s wedding. They accepted the invitation. (The Jews see themselves as God’s chosen people.) The time comes for the actual banquet – all has been prepared (Jesus has come.) The king tells the servants to summon those on the guest list. The people refuse to come. Some even kill the servants (prophets). In a harsh but true statement the king says, “Those I invited did not deserve to come.” Undeterred, the servants are sent out into the streets (the world) inviting people (all people) to come to the banquet. The invitation is wide open. The banquet hall is filled! This is God’s intent for the kingdom of heaven – both here on earth and one day in eternity.

The target audience has layers. There is wrestling to be done. A target audience is the religious leaders and other Jews that have rejected the prophets and who now reject Jesus. Another target audience is those who have read this parable ever since it was written. How often we (you and me) reject the invitations of God – be they in the words in red or in the gentle whispers and nudges of the Holy Spirit. What then is Jesus teaching us yet today?

Prayer: Lord God, may the truths that you reveal to us today not just be a sting that we allow to fade away with time. May they lead us to step further into your kingdom here on earth. May we hear your voice calling us to the streets, to the places where the lost and lonely, the broken and the hurting reside. In and through us may they hear your invitation to the feast. Amen.


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Heart Treasure

Reading: Luke 12:22-34

Verse 33: “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail.”

Yesterday we looked at Paul’s invitation to strain forward towards the prize that we will one day receive in heaven. Along this journey we can face many challenges. Sometimes we get stuck. This happens most often when the things of this world rise up, getting in the way of our faith. So today we turn to Luke 12 to hear Jesus’ words about an emotion that can be very hard to deal with or to push past: worry. We often get stuck when we become overly focused on our “stuff” – the things that make us feel safe and secure. Instead of looking heavenward, though, we choose to concern ourselves with the things of this world.

Jesus first addresses our basic needs: food, water, clothing. He begins with the ravens. Look how God feeds them! Jesus then points to the lilies – look at their splendor! With both examples, Jesus reminds us that we are far more valuable than birds or “the grass of the fields.” God knows we need these things and will meet our needs. Next, we are reminded to first seek the kingdom of God – the things not of this world. This is the greater need. Here too Jesus offers encouragement: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” This calls us to trust.

Jesus then addresses our actions step: “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor.” This action step sits at the core of who and what we trust. It calls us to trust at the deepest level. Like Abel, who gave to God from the firstborn lambs in Genesis 4, and like the widow who gave all she had to live on in Mark 13, can we also offer up our possessions to God, trusting that God will provide? Doing so we will “provide purses that will not wear out” for ourselves. Doing so, we will lead with the heart, the true source of our treasure – our faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, we know that you love us beyond our understanding. We know that you care for us and for our well-being. We know the promises of presence and of resurrection life. Help us to loosen our grip on the things of this world, freeing us to better grasp the things of heaven. Amen.


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Chosen

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Verse 1: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.”

Photo credit: Summertrain

Today and tomorrow we will study the parable about workers in the vineyard. The main character and the focus should be on the landowner. We can be tempted to make it about the vineyard workers because they are us. It’s really about God though.

The landowner is up and out and about early in the day. At 6 am he is already at the gathering place for day laborers. A plan is in place. It was set long before 6 am. The parable does not say if some of those present were hired or if all that were there at 6 am were hired. Since we’re talking about God here, I bet all that were there were hired. God welcomes one and all who seek to be of service in the kingdom of God.

As the story unfolds, the landowner returns again and again and again, still seeking to include more folks in the work. Each time he not only promises work, but he offers fair treatment too. God even returns at the last hour, looking for a few more folks to include in this kingdom work.

In the parable, being chosen is great news. Your family will eat that day. In this life, being chosen is great news too. Life here and the life to come just became incredibly better. In response may we rejoice today over our place in the kingdom of God. And may we not stop there. May we be invitational too, encouraging others to enter a place where they will be loved and provided for. As we have received, may we share with others.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for calling me into the labor of your kingdom. Thank you for your generous love and care. Use me to call others into the life that you offer to all of us, no matter where we are, no matter when we come to you. Amen.


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Convinced

Reading: Philippians 1:21-26

Verse 25: “Convinced of this… I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.”

Paul writes to the Philippian church from prison. Being in a place like that can lead one to take stock of one’s life. Earlier in this chapter he notes that his current imprisonment has “really advanced the gospel.” He sees God’s plan at work and he embraces his role in that plan – even if he finds himself in chains. Picture that as we read and consider these words today.

Our text opens with Paul writing, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” In prison, his life hangs in a delicate balance. He has been and is being used to advance the gospel. He also knows that to die is to gain heaven and to be in his beloved Christ’s presence once again. Paul is torn between the two. Going to be with Jesus “is better by far.” To remain on earth, however, “is more necessary for you.” Have you ever felt this tug of war in your soul?

Understanding his place in God’s plan, Paul writes, “Convinced of this… I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” He chooses God’s will over his own will. The needs of this church (and probably other new churches and Christians) takes priority over Paul’s desire to see Jesus Christ in eternal glory. The connective tissues of community and the call to serve God and one another is what convinces Paul of this commitment. Like Paul, we too have a role to play in God’s plan to advance the gospel. May we too be convinced of and committed to our role as we seek to build the kingdom of God in this time and place.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to better sense the call, as Paul so clearly did. Lead me to know your plans more assuredly and to step into them more fully. Use me day by day to build up your kingdom here on this earth, O Lord. Amen.


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As We Receive Mercy…

Reading: Matthew 18:21-27

Verse 23: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.”

After Jesus’ teaching about how to solve conflicts in the church, Peter wants to define the expectations. On second thought, no, Peter wants to limit the expectations, much like the expert in the law did when he asked Jesus to define his ‘neighbor’ (Luke 10). Yes, Peter is generous in offering to forgive 7 times. He is going way past the current cultural norm of 3. As it was with the parable of the Good Samaritan, in this week’s gospel passage Jesus blows the doors off of somehow trying to limit God’s love, grace, and mercy.

In verse 22 Jesus tells Peter, “I tell you, not 7 times, but 77 times.” Jesus is not, however, playing Peter’s game. He isn’t really setting 77 as the magic number. His point here is simple: quit counting. Counting wrongs is an exercise in patience, not forgiveness. When we keep a count of wrongs against us, we are just asking, ‘How long do I have to put up with this person?!”

Jesus then launches into a parable, beginning with, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.” In the parable the king represents God and we are the servants. The debt is our sin. The first servant owes a HUGE debt. He begs for forgiveness. The king is moved; he forgives the debt. The servant is set free. Now, what if this is really the king’s (God’s) goal in calling in the servants (us)? The king (God) doesn’t want to punish or extract payment. No, the king (God) wants to grant mercy to the servant (us). God desires that as we receive mercy, not 7 or 77 or 7,777 times, that we then, in turn, extend it to others. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, help me, O font of mercy, to model your heart for mercy, reconciliation, and forgiveness. Above all, you want a relationship with us. You’ll go to almost any length to achieve that. Lead me to do the same, both with you and with all those in my life. Amen.


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His Hope for Us Too

Reading: Matthew 16:21-23

Verse 23: “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Right after Peter’s amazing declaration of Jesus as the Messiah, I wonder if the disciples high-fived one another and got all excited – like rabid fans before the big game. Among the 12 were 2 zealots and probably 10 others who longed to see Rome sent home with her tail between her legs. The disciples, like 99.9% of the Jewish population, dreamed of being a great and powerful nation once again. We recall that Jesus ended that last messianic conversation with the stern warning not to tell anyone that Jesus is the Messiah. Tempering the emotions and expectations of the masses is never easy. A crowd can go from zero to 100 in a moment. (See the Palm Sunday passages.)

Jesus begins to temper the disciples’ messianic expectations by God explaining what his last few days will actually look like. He tells them that he will “suffer many things” and that he will be killed. Then he says, but on the third day he will be “raised to life.” All of this must’ve felt crushing and simply impossible to the disciples – especially the last part about rising to life after being killed. Jesus, dead is dead. There is no going back.

Peter can’t make any sense of it. He probably didn’t want to either. That’s why he reacts as he does, saying, “Never, Lord!” Peter thought he was being brave and courageous. He thought he knew better than Jesus. Jesus does not think so. He sharply redirects Peter’s thinking, inviting him away from “merely human concerns” and into “the concerns of God.” Peter, the rock, will get there.

That is Jesus’ hope for us too. We can easily lose our kingdom of God focus and regress into the ways of the kingdom of the world. Self can easily slip ahead of Jesus as the one who ruled the roost. In these moments when we begin to teeter – and we will – may we remember that Jesus is the king of love not hate, of humility not greatness, of peace not competition and comparison. May this be our king, our Lord, our Savior.

Prayer: Lord God, the things and ways of this world can so easily become a stumbling block. Soon enough we’ve fallen and are all bruised and broken. By the power of your Holy Spirit, intervene and intercede in our lives. Lead and guide us to walk in the way that leads to abundant life. Amen.


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Roles

Reading: Exodus 2:1-10

Verse 3: “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.”

Today we continue in the exodus story. We are yet many years from Pharaoh letting the people go. In today’s passage, though, God begins to work that plan. A Hebrew baby is born and the mother cannot bring herself to obey Pharaoh’s law that says to kill the baby boy. After 3 months she is led to a plan: “But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch.” The basket is strategically placed in the reeds right by where the Egyptian women bathe. The older sister keeps watch from a distance. As the basket and baby are found, she swoops in to offer to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Just like that the baby is back at home, where he will remain until weaned. At that time he is given to Pharaoh’s daughter to raise as her own. She names the baby Moses. He will grow up and one day liberate his people from slavery.

The three main women in this story all play important roles. Each follows their hearts and allows love to guide their actions. The prompting of their hearts is God at work. Moses is a pretty big name in the storyline of the Bible. Yes, the three women play a much smaller role in comparison to Moses. But without any of their roles we wouldn’t have a Moses. We all can also play relatively small roles in God’s unfolding plan. Like these three women, what we do and say also impacts the kingdom of God. We too have the power to change lives. Following God’s promptings, may we choose to love as we are led out into the world and into people’s lives.

Prayer: Lord God, guide me today to step into the plans that you have for me. Give me a confidence to go where you lead. Help me to trust into your plans for building a kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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No Jew or Gentile, No…

Reading: Romans 10:5-13

Verse 12: “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”

Paul writes in chapter 10 of the Lord who is Lord of all. For the Jewish Christians in Rome, they still clung to the Law of Moses. They saw faith as living out the Law. The Jewish Christians thought the new Gentile believers should adhere to all of the Law as well. Paul is calling for a faith based upon living out Jesus’ teachings and example. Paul invites those in the church in Rome to a faith that is “in your mouth and in your heart.” He is inviting them all to live a faith driven and guided by the Holy Spirit – the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ within each of them.

Paul continues, emphasizing that faith in Jesus comes not from the Law but from confessing and living out “Jesus is Lord.” Faith is ‘finalized’ with the belief that because Jesus rose, one day the faithful will rise too. Put another way, one day our justification will lead to our sanctification. Put yet another way, faithful and righteous living here will one day lead to eternal glory. For both groups in the Roman church, this was the hoped-for outcome of their faith in Jesus Christ. It is all believers hoped-for outcome of faith.

There was a division in the Roman church and it was getting in the way of their moving towards this desired outcome AND it was getting in the way of their witnessing to non-believers. So Paul uses some strong language in verse 12: “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.” Paul does not say “Christian Jews and Gentile believers.” He goes a step wider. He wants the church to understand that their little squabble affects more than just them. He says all Jews and all Gentiles (which, in the language of the day, means “all people”) can call on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. All people can call on Jesus to be saved.

As we seek to share and live out our faith and righteousness, may our eyes and hearts also be wide open, loving and witnessing to all people as the beloved children of God.

Prayer: Lord, in your kingdom there will be no Jew or Gentile, no Methodist or Catholic, no slave or free, no black or white, no rich or poor, no this or that. All people are the creation of your hands. All people are beloved by you. Lead me and use me to build that kingdom here on earth. Open my eyes and heart wide open. Amen.


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Revival

Reading: Romans 9:1-5

Verses 4b and 5a: “Theirs is the adoption… Theirs are the patriarchs…”

Paul himself had a very radical and powerful conversion experience. He encountered the living Christ and was struck blind. Three days later he experienced a miraculous restoration of his sight. His life changed forever as he now saw with fresh eyes. Most of us do not have a “lightning” type conversion experience. For most of us, faith comes slowly, over time, with many small steps leading to our intentional choice to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In the last two verses of our Epistle reading Paul speaks of his people, of “the people of Israel.” He lists the many things that they have that could lead them to also accept Jesus as Messiah: adopted as God’s chosen people, receivers of the Law and covenants and promises, worshippers in the temple. He adds that they also have the patriarchs. These are the greats of the faith – Abraham, Moses, Elijah… From Paul’s perspective and new understanding all of this points to Jesus as the Messiah. It all adds up for Paul. But for most of the Jews, it does not. They do not have an encounter or experience that has moved them across the line of belief.

Today there are many people who were raised in the church as children and youth but are not part of a church anymore. This is not to say that they don’t believe in Jesus Christ. Many do. Yet active participation in a church community does not add up for a lot of people. They have the Bible, they know Jesus’ teachings and promises… Just as it did for Paul, my heart and soul aches for these folks. We long for a revival in our communities and in our nation. May it begin with you and me as we seek to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, use my hunger and hurt for the disconnected, for the hurt, for the disenfranchised to rebuild connections, to rekindle fires for you. In love use me to help folks re-cross the line of active belief. Show me the way to rebuild this part of your kingdom here on earth. Amen.


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Well, have you?

Reading: Matthew 13:44-52

Verse 49: “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous.”

Today we turn to 3 more parables. All 3 fall into the “kingdom of heaven is like…” category. Jesus continues to string together thoughts that paint a broader and deeper understanding of what God’s kingdom and our faith is like.

In our first parable Jesus compares faith to a treasure hidden in a field. Faith is often something that we “discover.” Suddenly one day we claim a faith of our own. In the parable a man finds it and in joy sells all that he has just to attain the treasure. In a like way we joyfully give up the things of this world – pride, greed, ego, possessions… – in order to attain a relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior.

In our second parable a merchant is searching. Perhaps at a point you were searching – looking for meaning and purpose beyond the simple things of this world. When you found it – your faith – you were willing to give up all else so that you could walk faithfully with Jesus.

And then the third parable. It gives meaning and even consequences to the first two parables. Jesus speaks again of a time when the good will be separated from the bad. The good – those who sold all that this world could offer, giving it all up to walk with Jesus – they will be saved. The bad – those who chose the things of this world – they will suffer in the eternal fires. And then Jesus asks the disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” Well, have you?

Prayer: Lord God, in the day to day, in the small things, I can struggle. Help me to choose you. It’s easy to get lost in what seems important at the moment – until I realize where it’s led. I’ve given all for you. Remind me again and again of this decision. Amen.